Need to grab all those attachments from your Gmail account? Whether you're dealing with dozens of files in a single email or trying to collect attachments across multiple messages, downloading them one by one is a major time drain. Thankfully, there are several methods to download all Gmail attachments at once, saving you countless clicks and valuable time.

In this guide, I'll walk you through four practical ways to download multiple Gmail attachments simultaneously. From built-in Gmail features to third-party tools, these methods will help you manage your email attachments more efficiently.

Method 1: Using Gmail's Built-in Download All Feature

Did you know Gmail has a built-in feature that lets you download all attachments from a single email at once? This native option is perfect when you receive an email containing multiple files.

How to Use Gmail's Download All Feature

1. Open the email containing multiple attachments in Gmail
2. Look for the "Download all attachments" button (appears as a downward-pointing arrow icon)
3. Click on this button
4. Your browser will download all files as a single compressed ZIP folder
5. Locate the ZIP file in your computer's download folder
6. Extract the files to access individual attachments

Limitations of Gmail's Built-in Download Feature

• Works only for attachments within a single email
• Not suitable for downloading attachments across multiple emails
• Some file types might not download properly in certain browsers
• Total attachment size is limited to Gmail's 25MB restriction

This method is straightforward but limited to handling attachments from one email at a time. For more comprehensive solutions, let's explore other options.

Method 2: Using Google Takeout to Download All Gmail Attachments

Google Takeout is a powerful service that allows you to export data from various Google services, including Gmail. This method is particularly useful when you need to download attachments from your entire Gmail history.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Google Takeout

1. Go to Google Takeout
2. Sign in with your Google account if prompted
3. Deselect all services by clicking "Deselect all"
4. Scroll down and select only "Mail"
5. Click on "Multiple formats" next to Mail
6. Under "Mail," select "Include all messages" or choose specific labels
7. For attachment-focused export, select "Include attachments"
8. Click "OK" to confirm your choices
9. Scroll to the bottom and click "Next step"
10. Choose your delivery method (email link, add to Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
11. Select file type (ZIP or TGZ) and size (up to 50GB)
12. Choose export frequency (one-time or periodic)
13. Click "Create export"

What to Expect After Creating Your Export

• Google will prepare your download (may take hours or days depending on size)
• You'll receive an email notification when your export is ready
• Follow the link in the email to download your data
• The download will contain folders organized by Gmail label
• Attachments will be included with their respective emails

Pros and Cons of the Google Takeout Method

Pros	Cons
Downloads attachments from your entire Gmail history	Can take a long time for large accounts
Completely free and official Google service	Downloads entire emails, not just attachments
Preserves folder structure and email context	Requires sorting through files to find attachments
Secure way to backup all your Gmail data	Not ideal for quick access to recent attachments

Google Takeout is excellent for comprehensive backups but might be overkill if you just need to grab attachments from a few recent emails.

Method 3: Using Gmail Add-ons for Batch Attachment Downloads

Gmail add-ons can extend functionality and make downloading multiple attachments much easier. Several third-party add-ons are specifically designed for managing attachments in bulk.

Top Gmail Add-ons for Downloading Attachments

1. GetIt - Attachment Downloader

GetIt is a popular Gmail add-on that specializes in attachment management.

• Install from Google Workspace Marketplace
• Appears in the right sidebar of Gmail
• Allows filtering attachments by type, size, and date
• Download multiple attachments with a single click
• Free version available with premium options

To use GetIt:

1. Open Gmail and click the "+" icon in the right sidebar
2. Search for "GetIt" and click to install
3. Grant necessary permissions
4. Use the add-on to search for and select attachments
5. Click "Download Selected" to get your files

2. Attachment Extractor

This add-on focuses specifically on extracting attachments from multiple emails.

• Scans your Gmail for all attachments
• Organizes files by type, size, and date
• Allows bulk selection and download
• Can save directly to Google Drive
• Works with labeled emails and search results

3. Dittach

Dittach offers a visual approach to attachment management.

• Creates a visual gallery of all your attachments
• Filters by file type (documents, images, videos, etc.)
• Allows sorting by date, size, and sender
• Enables bulk selection and download
• Integrates with Google Drive for direct saving

How to Choose the Right Gmail Add-on

When selecting an add-on for downloading attachments, consider these factors:

• Security: Only use add-ons from trusted developers with good reviews
• Permissions: Check what access the add-on requires to your Gmail
• Features: Match the add-on capabilities to your specific needs
• Cost: Many offer free versions with premium upgrades
• Updates: Choose actively maintained add-ons

Gmail add-ons strike a good balance between convenience and functionality, making them ideal for regular Gmail users who frequently work with attachments.

Method 4: Using Desktop Email Clients to Download Multiple Attachments

Desktop email clients like Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook, or Apple Mail can connect to your Gmail account and offer powerful attachment management features not available in the web version.

Setting Up Thunderbird to Download Gmail Attachments

Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client with excellent attachment handling capabilities.

Step 1: Configure Thunderbird with your Gmail account

1. Download and install Mozilla Thunderbird
2. Open Thunderbird and select "Set up an existing email account"
3. Enter your name, Gmail address, and password
4. Thunderbird will automatically detect Gmail settings
5. Click "Done" to finish setup

Step 2: Enable IMAP in Gmail (if not already enabled)

1. Log into Gmail web interface
2. Click the gear icon and select "See all settings"
3. Go to the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab
4. In the "IMAP Access" section, select "Enable IMAP"
5. Click "Save Changes"

Step 3: Download multiple attachments in Thunderbird

1. In Thunderbird, navigate to the folder containing emails with attachments
2. Use search or filters to find emails with attachments
3. Select multiple emails (using Ctrl+click or Shift+click)
4. Right-click and choose "Save Attachments"
5. Select destination folder on your computer
6. Click "Save" to download all attachments from selected emails

Using Microsoft Outlook for Batch Attachment Downloads

If you have Microsoft Outlook, you can use its powerful attachment tools with your Gmail account.

Setting up Gmail in Outlook:

1. Open Outlook and go to File > Add Account
2. Enter your Gmail address and click "Connect"
3. Enter your password when prompted
4. Follow the wizard to complete setup

Downloading multiple attachments in Outlook:

1. Navigate to the folder containing emails with attachments
2. Use the search function to find emails with attachments (has:attachment)
3. Select multiple emails
4. Right-click and choose "Save All Attachments"
5. Select which attachments to save
6. Choose destination folder and click "OK"

Benefits of Using Desktop Email Clients

• Work offline with downloaded emails and attachments
• More powerful search and filtering options
• Better organization tools for managing attachments
• Ability to save attachments directly to specific folders
• Automatic attachment handling rules and filters
• No browser limitations or restrictions

Comparing the Four Methods

Method	Best For	Ease of Use	Speed	Additional Software Required
Gmail Built-in Feature	Single emails with multiple attachments	Very Easy	Fast	No
Google Takeout	Complete backup of all Gmail attachments	Moderate	Slow	No
Gmail Add-ons	Regular Gmail users who need to download attachments frequently	Easy	Medium	Yes (browser extension)
Desktop Email Clients	Power users who manage many emails and attachments	Moderate	Fast once set up	Yes (desktop application)

Tips for Managing Gmail Attachments Effectively

Beyond just downloading attachments, here are some strategies to help you manage Gmail attachments more efficiently:

Organizing Attachments in Gmail

• Create labels specifically for emails with important attachments
• Use Gmail's search operators like "has:attachment" or "filename:.pdf" to find specific attachments
• Set up filters to automatically label incoming emails with attachments
• Star or mark important emails containing critical attachments

Saving Attachments to Cloud Storage

Instead of downloading attachments to your local device, consider these cloud storage options:

• Save directly to Google Drive from Gmail (look for the Drive icon when viewing attachments)
• Use the "Save to Drive" option that appears when hovering over attachments
• Set up automatic saving of attachments to Drive using filters and add-ons
• Create organized folder structures in Drive for different types of attachments

Security Considerations When Downloading Attachments

• Always scan downloaded attachments for viruses and malware
• Be cautious of unexpected attachments, even from known senders
• Verify sender identity before opening attachments
• Keep your antivirus software updated
• Don't open attachments with suspicious file extensions (.exe, .bat, .js)

Managing Attachment Storage Space

Gmail and Google Drive share the same storage quota. To manage your space effectively:

• Regularly delete unnecessary attachments from old emails
• Use Gmail's search to find large attachments with "size:10m" (for files larger than 10MB)
• Download important attachments locally before deleting them from Gmail
• Consider upgrading your Google storage if you frequently work with large files
• Compress large files before sending or storing them

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Troubleshooting Common Attachment Download Issues

Even with these methods, you might encounter some challenges when downloading attachments. Here's how to address common problems:

Attachment Download Failures

• Check your internet connection stability
• Try using a different web browser
• Clear browser cache and cookies
• Disable browser extensions that might interfere with downloads
• Check if the attachment size exceeds Gmail's limits

Missing or Corrupt Attachments

• Ask the sender to resend the attachment in a different format
• Try downloading the attachment individually instead of in bulk
• Check if your antivirus is blocking or quarantining the attachment
• Try accessing Gmail from a different device

Browser Compatibility Issues

• Chrome and Firefox typically offer the best compatibility with Gmail
• Ensure your browser is updated to the latest version
• Try disabling hardware acceleration in browser settings
• Use incognito/private browsing mode to rule out extension conflicts

Conclusion

Downloading all attachments from Gmail doesn't have to be a tedious process. The four methods we've covered—Gmail's built-in feature, Google Takeout, Gmail add-ons, and desktop email clients—offer different approaches to suit various needs and preferences.

For quick downloads from a single email, Gmail's native "Download all" button works perfectly. For backing up your entire attachment history, Google Takeout is the way to go. Regular Gmail users will benefit from specialized add-ons, while power users might prefer the robust capabilities of desktop email clients.

By choosing the right method for your specific situation and following the tips for effective attachment management, you can save time and keep your important files organized. Remember to always consider security when handling email attachments, and regularly manage your storage to avoid running out of space.

With these strategies in your toolkit, you'll be able to handle Gmail attachments more efficiently, whether you're dealing with a few files or thousands of attachments across your entire account.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I download attachments from multiple Gmail emails at once?

Yes, you can download attachments from multiple Gmail emails at once using methods like Gmail add-ons (GetIt, Attachment Extractor, or Dittach), desktop email clients like Thunderbird or Outlook, or by using Google Takeout for a complete backup. Gmail's built-in download feature only works for attachments within a single email.

2. Is there a size limit when downloading attachments from Gmail?

Yes, Gmail has a 25MB size limit for attachments in a single email. When using the built-in "Download all" feature, this limit still applies. For larger files, senders typically use Google Drive links instead of direct attachments. When using Google Takeout, you can download your entire Gmail data including all attachments, with export files up to 50GB in size.

3. Are Gmail add-ons for downloading attachments safe to use?

Most Gmail add-ons from the Google Workspace Marketplace are safe, but you should always check reviews, developer reputation, and required permissions before installing. Only use add-ons with many positive reviews and clear privacy policies. Be cautious of add-ons requesting excessive permissions beyond what's needed for attachment management. Stick to well-known options like GetIt, Attachment Extractor, or Dittach.

4. Why can't I see the "Download all attachments" option in my Gmail?

If you can't see the "Download all attachments" option in Gmail, it might be because: 1) The email only has one attachment (the option only appears with multiple attachments), 2) You're using an outdated browser or Gmail interface, 3) The attachments are Google Drive links rather than true attachments, or 4) You're using Gmail basic HTML view instead of the standard view. Try updating your browser and switching to standard view.

5. How can I find all emails with attachments in Gmail?

To find all emails with attachments in Gmail, use the search operator "has:attachment" in the search bar. You can refine this search further by adding other operators like "from:[email]" to find attachments from a specific sender, "after:2023/01/01" to find attachments after a certain date, or "filename:.pdf" to find specific file types. These search operators work in both the Gmail web interface and in desktop email clients connected to Gmail.